Declan Rice Speaks On His ‘Altercation’ With Arsenal Striker

In a surprising turn of events, Declan Rice has expressed his eagerness to reunite with Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah despite a previous altercation between the two players.

The talented England midfielder completed his club-record transfer of £105 million from West Ham to Arsenal on Saturday.

He wasted no time in joining Mikel Arteta’s training session at London Colney before embarking on the team’s pre-season tour of the United States tomorrow.

Rice’s move from east to north London will see him once again team up with Nketiah, a current Gunners striker with whom he shared the field during their early days at Chelsea.

READ ALSO: Battle of The Titans: Arsenal, Manchester United And Chelsea In Race To Sign Ajax Star

The duo made headlines for their heated exchange during Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over West Ham at the London Stadium in May of last year.

Declan Rice has opened up on his bust-up with Eddie Nketiah (Image: GETTY)

Despite the clash, Rice is determined to put that incident behind them, recognizing the incredible journeys they both have embarked upon since their days of being released by Chelsea a decade ago.

Reflecting on their intertwined paths, Rice shared his thoughts on the matter with Arsenal’s official website. “I played with Eddie from under-nines to under-14s. We were both released on the same day, and it’s incredible to see where football has taken us on our respective journeys,” he said.

“Eddie has made his mark at Arsenal, while I have found my place at West Ham. Now, we have the opportunity to reunite. Despite our previous altercation on the pitch, I have always held a fondness for Eddie and have been close to his family. His father is an exceptional person who used to accompany us on all our childhood tours. I am genuinely excited to see Eddie again, along with the other boys.”

Rice’s arrival at Arsenal will also reunite him with several of his England teammates, including Bukayo Saka, Aaron Ramsdale, and Ben White.

READ ALSO: Kai Havertz’s Arsenal Debut Highlights Goes Viral [Video]

The prospect of playing alongside these individuals fills Rice with a sense of honor. “It’s truly an honor to join forces with my fellow England teammates at the club level,” he revealed. “I have had the privilege of playing with some incredible talents in the national team, and now I have the opportunity to share the same responsibilities at Arsenal.”

He continued, praising the players he will join at Arsenal and their impressive growth under the guidance of the manager.

“When you hear such high praise about the club from your teammates, it really resonates with you,” Rice added. “Players like Saka, who has become one of the world’s best wingers, Ramsdale, an exceptional goalkeeper, and White, who had an outstanding season at right-back last year. Then there’s Smith Rowe and many others in the squad. They all speak glowingly about the club and its direction over the past few years. It’s truly an exciting prospect.”

As Declan Rice embraces his new chapter at Arsenal, fans eagerly await the chemistry and camaraderie he will bring to the team, reuniting with Nketiah and joining forces with his England compatriots.

The stage is set for an intriguing season ahead for the talented midfielder and his new Arsenal teammates.